O’Melveny Honored with National Legal Aid & Defender Association’s Beacon of Justice Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOS ANGELES—July 21, 2020—O’Melveny has been named a recipient of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association’s 2020 Beacon of Justice Award, which recognizes law firms with pro bono programs most effectively serving vulnerable immigrants fleeing violence and oppression in their home countries to seek freedom and safety in the United States.

“The ongoing humanitarian crisis along the US southern border impacts hundreds of thousands of migrant children, women, and men seeking asylum or hoping to immigrate to the United States,” the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) noted in a statement. “Ever changing federal policies and practices have exacerbated the already challenging situations for those desperately searching for safety and the American promise of the “Blessings of Liberty.”

NLADA hailed O’Melveny’s “bold” efforts to address these challenges, confronting high-profile policy issues such as the legality of funding for a border wall. NLADA also cited O’Melveny for its successful defense of a religious group providing humanitarian aid to migrants along the US-Mexican border.

“We are honored to receive this wonderful recognition,” said David Lash, O’Melveny’s managing counsel for pro bono and public interest services. “NLADA is a leader in the effort to ensure access to justice for all, and we continue to be inspired by the organization’s work and impact in the field.”

In addition to immigration, O’Melveny’s pro bono program tackles the most critical issues of our time, from housing to women’s rights and veterans’ affairs, from criminal justice and equitable education to protecting civil rights and building community.

To learn more about O’Melveny’s award-winning pro bono program, visit our pro bono page or download our most recent pro bono program review.

NLADA leads a community of advocates to advance justice and expand opportunity for all by promoting excellence in the delivery of legal services for people who cannot afford counsel. It will honor the firm at Scaling Justice: Celebrating Creative Solutions on September 16, 2020, an annual celebration that brings together leadership from the corporate, law firm, civil legal aid, and public defense communities.

About O’Melveny

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